Circuit-closing device



July 22 1924.

7 1,502,638 w. A. LEE

CIRCUIT CLOSING DEVICE Filed June 19. 1923 EJlig-l l 21 Patented July 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM A. LEE, OF ROSELAXVN, INDIANA.

CIRCUIT-CLOSING DEVICE.

Application filed June 19,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. LEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roselawn, in the county of Newton and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Closing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relatesto a device for stopping the operation of the internal combustion engines of vehicles, such as tractors, automobiles, aeroplanes or the like, when the vehicle assumes anangular position, beyond a predetermined limit.

An important object of theinvention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, which is universal in operation, stopping the operation of the engine when tilting to or beyond a selected angle, in any direction. A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, reliable in operation, and may be easily installed upon the engine and associated with the ignition circuit thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character, which is particularly well adapted for use in connection with the engines of tractors, to prevent the same from tilting rearwardly, which frequently occurs when the load is excessive or an obstruction encountered so that the load cannot be drawn by the tractor. V V p 7 Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, formin a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device embodying my invention, showing the same in use,

Figure 2 is a central vertical sectional view through the device, and,

Figure 3 is a plan view of the same.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral 5 designates an internal combustion engine, and 6 a source of current included in the ignition circuit. This source of current 6 may be a battery or the secondary coil or coils included in the usual ignition system, A wire 1923. Serial N0. 645,408.

7 is connected with one pole of the source of current and grounded, and a wire 8 18 connected with the opposite pole of this source of current and leads to the spark plugs. The

numeral 9 designates the groundconnection of the engine. 7

My circuit closing device embodies a tapered or conical shell casing 10, decreasing in diameter downwardly, with its lower end closed for receiving or holding movable circuit closing means, illustrated in the form of a plurality of metal balls 11. Instead of employing these balls, I may employ any form of rolling contact element or elements and also contemplate using mercury. The

shell 10 is formed of metal, and is supported by a pair of vertical legs 12, also formed of metal, and in electrical connection there with. These legs have apertured feet 13, for receiving certain of the bolts 14, which serve to hold the head of the engine block in place. The shell 10 is therefore in electrical connection with the engine. The numeral 15 designates a top or" cover for the'shell 10, which is also formed of metal/ This cover is thoroughly insulated from the shell 10 by means of an insulating gasket or ring 16. Thecover15 is secured to the upper end of the shell 10 by bolts 17 or the like, which are thoroughly insulated from the cover 15.-

Arranged within the conical shell 10 is a tapered or conical obstruction element 18, which decreases in diameter downwardly, as

shown. This obstruction elementis prefer ably formed of insulating material such as porcelain, wood or the like. This obstruc tion element is provided upon its periphery with spaced annular obstruction elements or g ribs 19, integral therewith. These ribs are annular and are spaced from each other in vertical relation and are also spaced from the shell 10, as shown. The obstruction element 18 is attached to the cover 15 by means of a rod or bolt 20, engaging this cover, and thoroughly insulated therefrom, as shown.

Secured to the cover 15 is a binding post 21, having connection with a wire 22, connected with the wire 8 of the ignition circuit.

With the circuit closing device arranged as shown in Figure 1, it is obvious that should the engine 5 tilt in any direction, be yond a predetermined limit, the ball or balls 11 will roll down the shell 10 and form an electrical connection between the shell and the cover 15. A short circ iit will thereby be closed and the current will flow fromthe provision of the obstructing elements or ribs 19, which function to check or prevent the upward movementofthe balls, due to the sudden jars or vibrationstransmitted to the engine, whereby-the short circuit will not be impro erly closed; These obstruction elements co not interfere with the closing of the short circuit when the engine tilts,

as explained. Then the device is tilted, the balls 11 run down theside of the shell 10, and do not contact with the obstruction elements or ribs 19,. and hence these ribs do not function. hen the balls are thrown suddenly upwardly, by jars or the like, they strike against certain of the ribs 19, depending upon their particular direction of movement,-and hence are returned to the bottom of the shell, without contacting with the plate 15. v

The invention is of course in no sense restricted to the precise location of the circuit closing device, as indicated in Figure l. The device may be located upon'any suitable part of the engine, or frame'of the automobile. The device is also adapted for use inconnection with any form of vehicle, such as tractors, automobiles, or aeroplanes. In the event that the vehicle should turn over, as occurs frequently with automobile wrecks, itis obvious that the engine will be stopped, thereby preventing fires, which frequently occur under these circumstances. The same will be true in the event that the device was used upon aeroplanes.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the metal shell decreasing in'diameter down-' wardly, V a metal cover for the shell insulated therefrom, a tapered obstructing member arranged within the shell and de reasing in diameter downwardly and spaced from said shell, said member having vertically spaced obstructing eleinents formed thereon, movable circuit closing means mounted within the shell and adapted to electrically connect said shell and cover, a binding post secured to the cover, and an electrical connection secured to the shell.

2. A device for use in connection with-an internal combustion engine for short circuiting the ignition ,circuitof the same when the engine inclines beyond a predetermined limit, comprising an upstanding tapered metal shell decreasing in diameter clownwardly, a contact element arranged at the upper large end of the shell and extending about the same and insulated therefrom, a

taper d obstruction member mounted within the shell and decreasing in diameter downwardly and provided with obstruction elements, movable circuit closing means mounted within the shell and adapted to electrically connect said shell and contact element, an electrical connection secured to the contact element, and an electrical connection secured to the shell. or v In testimony whereof I affiX my signature. l

i WILLIAM 

